This Healthy Beef and Broccoli recipe is sure to impress, featuring succulent flank steak, vibrant broccoli, and a tasty garlic ginger sauce. A swift and simple weeknight meal that outshines take-out, all while being ready in less than 30 minutes!
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Forgo the take-out and whip up this Healthy Beef and Broccoli! This is a weeknight favorite that you’ll want to make repeatedly. Comprising tender beef strips, fresh broccoli, and a robust garlic sauce that can be prepared in under 30 minutes, it’s ideal for hectic evenings, meal prep, or whenever you’re yearning for take-out—enjoy the restaurant-grade taste made in your own kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This
- Quick and easy – everything cooks together in a single pan in under 30 minutes for a delicious and flavorful quick weeknight meal.
- Healthier than take-out – this dish has reduced sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats, making it a much better choice than ordering from your go-to takeout menu!
- Balanced and satisfying – this meal is loaded with protein and fresh vegetables that provide fiber and essential nutrients.
- Perfect for meal prep – this beef and broccoli reheats wonderfully for nutritious lunches or dinners. You can also easily modify it to suit your preference!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- flank steak – a lean and tasty cut that becomes tender when sliced thinly against the grain. It absorbs the sauce beautifully and cooks quickly.
- broccoli – you will need roughly 3 cups of broccoli florets, and you can opt for either fresh or frozen broccoli.
- olive oil – I prefer using a good quality olive oil to sauté the steak and veggies that doesn’t have to be pricey; just ensure it’s cold-pressed and organic for optimal flavor.
- garlic – you may use fresh chopped garlic or minced garlic from a jar.
- ginger – brings a zing and perfectly balances the sauce’s richness. If fresh ginger isn’t available, feel free to replace it with half a teaspoon of ground ginger in the sauce.
- green onions – adds flavor enhancement and visual appeal.
- salt + black pepper – necessary for seasoning the flank steak and enhancing flavor.
- sauce – a tasty blend of soy sauce (I choose low sodium soy sauce), beef broth, honey, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch to thicken.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli
- Prepare the sauce. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, beef broth, honey, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. In another small bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry and combine it with the stir fry sauce. Set aside.
- Cook the meat. In a large skillet over high heat, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the beef strips in a single layer, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sauté the beef for 3 minutes on each side until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté the broccoli. Lower the heat to medium and drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet. Add the broccoli florets, garlic, and ginger, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, partially covered, until the broccoli is slightly tender yet still crisp.
- Toss everything together. Return the steak to the pan and pour in the prepared stir fry sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce has thickened a bit. Turn off the heat and mix in the green onions.
- Serve. We enjoy serving this beef and broccoli over rice, but you can also pair it with cauliflower rice, noodles, or savor it on its own!
Tips for the Best Beef and Broccoli
- Prep ingredients first – this beef and broccoli cooks rapidly, so I prefer to chop and measure everything in advance to swiftly assemble this meal.
- Thinly slice the steak – this ensures even cooking and allows the steak to absorb all that sauce. Just be sure to slice against the grain for super tender beef.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan – I suggest cooking the beef in smaller batches if your pan isn’t spacious enough. Overcrowding traps steam and hinders caramelization, which is essential for flavor.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce – I’ve found that regular soy sauce is overly salty, so the lower sodium variety is ideal for this dish. You may also substitute with coconut aminos or tamari for a gluten-free option.
- Taste and adjust – this garlicky stir fry sauce is one of my favorites, but feel free to taste and modify the sauce as necessary to suit your palate.
- Serving suggestions – this beef and broccoli meal is splendid served over brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or even noodles.
Variations
- Make it gluten-free – you can easily substitute the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free version of this recipe.
- Make it spicy – introduce more red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or chili garlic sauce for an extra kick and depth of flavor.
- Low-carb option – while we adore serving this over white or brown rice, feel free to enjoy it with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a lower-carb alternative.
- Vegetarian – replace the beef with tofu, tempeh, or your preferred noodles for a meatless adaptation.
- Extra veggies – you might also consider adding snap peas, bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, or mushrooms for added nutrients.
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Prepping and Storage
To Prep: You can pre-slice the beef, chop the broccoli florets, and prepare the sauce a day in advance and store them separately until ready to cook.
To Store: Beef and broccoli can be kept in a sealed airtight container for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can easily reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until properly warmed. If needed, add a splash of beef broth or water to maintain the sauce’s consistency.
More Stir Fry Recipes
Hope you all delight in this Healthy Beef and Broccoli! If you cherish this recipe as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!
For the sauce:
Prepare the sauce. In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, beef broth, honey, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. In another small bowl, combine the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry, then mix it into the stir fry sauce. Set aside.
- Cook the meat. In a large skillet over high heat, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil. Introduce the beef strips and season them with salt and pepper. Sauté the beef for 3 minutes on each side until just fully cooked. Move to a plate and set aside.
Sauté the broccoli. Reduce the heat to medium and sprinkle in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet. Add the broccoli florets, garlic, and ginger, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, covering partially with a lid, until the broccoli is slightly tender yet still crisp.
Toss everything together. Return the beef to the pan and pour in the prepared stir fry sauce. Turn the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Turn off the heat and stir in the green onions.
Serve. This beef and broccoli dish is wonderful served over rice, but feel free to enjoy it with cauliflower rice, noodles, or on its own!
Serving: 1/4th of recipe | Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.4g | Protein: 34.7g | Fat: 20.1g | Saturated Fat: 5.7g | Cholesterol: 57.8mg | Sodium: 951.6mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9.3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.